Salvation Army feeds tornado-ravaged Hattiesburg
The Salvation Army has dispatched mobile feeding units to assist in recovery efforts from tornado damage in Hattiesburg, Miss. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – The Salvation Army has dispatched four mobile feeding units covering the areas affected by the early morning tornado that left a path of destruction in and around Hattiesburg, Miss.
Along the path of storms from Jan. 21, roads were still blocked days later as power crews worked to restore electricity to homes. Salvation Army canteens set up so residents wouldn’t have to walk or drive too far for a hot meal or a beverage to drink.
“I heard glass breaking and something hitting the house,” Hattiesburg resident George Dixon said. Dixon walked to the canteen for food and also prayed with Salvation Army workers before he left.
“Seeing this truck makes you feel like someone cares about you,” Dixon said.
Another resident, Veronica Williams drove up to The Salvation Army canteen knowing she could get a hot meal for her family. “You always show up when people are in need,” Williams said to workers. “When you see that red and white, you are about to get help.”
Help has come in many forms. Michelle Overby and Jordyn Lester lived through Katrina on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Now living in Hattiesburg, they saw people in need and wanted to help.
“We drove down this street and saw how the people looked … that was how we looked after Katrina. We had to help,” Overby said. Michelle and Jordyn made sandwiches, bags of chips and snacks and bought bottled water to hand out. However, with the road blocked, they couldn’t deliver the food to a local church. Then they saw The Salvation Army canteen.
“The Salvation Army helped us, and we wanted to do that here,” Lester said.
Michelle and Jordyn asked if they could pass out their food next to the canteen. Salvation Army disaster workers loaned a table for them to use.
The Salvation Army prepared and delivered meals, served drinks and snacks, along with praying with people from the community.
With two mobile feeding units on standby ready to help if needed, disaster personnel with assess the need in the area and work with local and state emergency management agencies to provide for those in need.
According to The Salvation Army, the best way to help after a disaster is to make a financial donation to the charity of your choice. Monetary contributions also support local economies and ensure that businesses can operate when relief supplies diminish.
To donate to The Salvation Army, call 1-800-725-2769 or visit give.salvationarmyusa.org/january_tornado_outbreak. Also, donors can mail to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301. Designate “January Tornado Outbreak” on all checks.
